News & Announcements
News and Annoucements
Zach Summers has been named the next Activities Director for North Polk, beginning July 1, 2026. He brings more than a decade of experience in education and school activities leadership, most recently serving as the Activities Director for the Keokuk Community School District since 2017.
May 5, 2026
North Polk Community School District has named Zach Summers as the next Activities Director. He will begin in the role on July 1, 2026.
Summers brings more than a decade of experience in education, activities, and athletics, most recently serving as the 7-12 Activities Director for the Keokuk Community School District since 2017. During his time in Keokuk, he led efforts to expand student participation and strengthen programming, even as the district experienced declining enrollment.
Prior to that role, Summers served as a Health and Physical Education teacher and coach at Knox County R-1 School District in Edina, Missouri. He has coached multiple sports, including serving as a head boys basketball coach and football defensive coordinator, earning multiple honors, including recognition as a District Coach of the Year.
Summers holds a Master of Arts in Teaching (Physical Education) and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration with principal endorsement, earned from Northwestern College in 2022.
As Summers steps into his new role, his vision is clear: create student experiences that extend beyond the classroom, the field, and the stage — ones that foster genuine participation and a stronger sense of connection throughout Comet Nation.
He places a high value on collaboration, working closely with students, staff, families, and local partners to support programs built on high expectations and accountability.
Please join us in welcoming Zach and his family to Comet Nation!
A North Polk High School senior is gaining hands-on experience in interior design and home building through a semester-long internship with Black Birch Homes, working alongside professionals to see how real residential projects come together.
What does it take to transform a space from concept to completion? At Black Birch Homes, a well-known and award-winning local design company, that process happens every day—and for one North Polk High School senior, it has become a hands-on learning experience.
Through a semester-long internship, Mya Bond has been working alongside the Black Birch Homes team, stepping into the day-to-day environment of residential interior design and observing how projects develop from initial ideas to finished spaces.
Inside the Experience
Much of the experience has centered on observing the design process in real time, watching professionals make decisions, collaborate, and bring projects forward from concept to completion.
“So far, my internship with Black Birch Homes has been very beneficial,” Mya said. “I get to observe Jill and Caroline, owners and designers, working and ask questions about the design choices they make. It has been fun to see their creative process for different projects, and how projects come together in the end.”
The role has included a mix of observation and support work within the studio, including taking notes during projects and helping prepare items in the shop for open house events. “Sitting back and observing has actually allowed me to learn quite a bit about the design field,” shared Mya. “I also help out by putting price tags on items in the shop so they are ready for open house events.”
The experience has also provided exposure to the tools and software used in the industry, helping build an understanding of the technical side of design work.
What’s Ahead
Looking ahead, Mya plans to study Interior Design at Iowa State University after graduating from North Polk High School. The internship has helped reinforce that direction by connecting classroom learning with real-world application.”
“This internship has given me insight into what an actual career in the design field could look like, and has reaffirmed that this is a career and lifestyle that I think I could really enjoy,” Mya said.
For students considering their next steps, Mya encourages exploring opportunities beyond the classroom when possible.
“If students have an opening in their schedule and do not know what to do, I would highly recommend trying to find local opportunities that are in a field of interest to them,” Mya said. “Loading up on college credits is helpful, but so is real-world experience that internships can provide.”
The experience highlights how internships like this give students a closer look at real careers by stepping into professional environments while still in high school.
Twenty North Polk High School students have earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, demonstrating advanced skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Learn more about this achievement, the process behind it, and what it means for students.
20 North Polk High School students earned the Seal of Biliteracy. (Note, not all recipients pictured).
North Polk is proud to recognize 20 North Polk High School students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish for the 2025-26 school year.
This represents years of work learning to use the language in real ways—communicating, understanding, and growing more confident with it over time.
To earn the Seal, students complete a rigorous assessment process that measures their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in both English and Spanish. From writing essays to responding to real-world prompts, students demonstrate they can apply their language skills in meaningful, real-world ways.
At North Polk, the number of students pursuing the Seal changes from year to year. What stands out is how many of those who do take it on are successful. That growth in success reflects the strength of our Spanish program, the educators who lead it, and the students willing to challenge themselves with advanced language learning. Together, they’re creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
Earning the Seal of Biliteracy sets these students apart and prepares them to engage in a world where communication and cultural understanding matter more than ever. In addition, students who earn the Seal receive a special graduation medal recognizing this achievement.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients, and to our Spanish team for the role they play in making achievements like this possible.
North Polk's communications department was recognized in every category entered at this year's statewide school public relations awards, highlighting excellence across multiple areas of school storytelling and communication.
The way a district tells its story matters—and this year, North Polk’s communications efforts were recognized statewide for doing just that.
North Polk’s communications department earned recognition in every category submitted to this year’s Iowa School Public Relations Association (ISPRA) Communication Contest, including a perfect score for the video announcing the launch of the district’s Girls Wrestling Program.
ISPRA’s Communication Contest is judged by out-of-state school public relations professionals on the effectiveness, quality, and impact of each entry. The highest honor, the Blue & Gold Award, is reserved for entries that receive a perfect score. North Polk’s Girls Wrestling announcement earned that distinction.
NPCSD ISPRA Honors:
- It's Our Time: North Polk Launches Girls Wrestling - Blue & Gold Award (Video-Singular)
- Pinning the Moment - Award of Excellence (Photography)
- From Bond to Ballfields - Award of Excellence (Public Engagement Campaign) recognized North Polk’s communications efforts surrounding the grand opening of the baseball and softball fields, highlighting the full scope of messaging, storytelling, and event promotion tied to the celebration.
- Folding the Flag - Award of Excellence (Photography)
The work behind these honors reflects a commitment to telling North Polk’s story in a visually creative and engaging way, with clear, consistent, and timely communication. As the district continues to expand programs and opportunities for students, that means finding creative ways to bring those milestones to the community in real time.
From experiments to awards, the North Polk Science Department excelled at the State Science and Technology Fair.
Monday, March 30
Last week, over 30 North Polk students took their ideas, research, experiments, and projects to Iowa State University for the 69th State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa.
Their efforts truly paid off—our students collectively earned over $9,000 in scholarships and awards.
Awards & Honors:
Hayden Ocheltree
- 1st place Animal Science
- 3rd place Animal Systems FFA Agriscience Fair
- STEM Trip to Greece $2000 Scholarship
Krista Schoenberg
- ISU College of Liberal Arts & Science $500 Scholarship
- NASA Earth Systems Science Award
- U.S. Metric Award
- Yale Science and Engineering Award
Addy Baker
- Honorable Mention Food Science
- $750 Scholarship to Loras College
Katie Goetz
- Honorable Mention Food Science
Liz Fletchall
- $750 scholarship to Loras College
- Horizon Award Winner
- STEM Trip to Greece $2000 scholarship
Grady Bacon
- Honorable Mention Engineering
- $750 Scholarship to Loras College
Reagan Flemmer
- Women’s in Geoscience Award
- US Metric Systems Award
- Excellence in Plant Science Award
- Outstanding Research Award
Evan Hogan
- NOAA Award
Izzy Bauer
- Excellence in Research Award
Mallory Byrd
- STEM Trip to Greece $2000 scholarship
Bella Boehmer
- Naval Award
Ellie Crawford
- Honorable Mention Robotics and Intelligent Machines
Izzy Goforth
- $1000 scholarship to ISU College of Human Sciences
Congratulations to our entire science department, students, and staff, for all their efforts and on a great showing at this year's fair!